stan's gf

pairing: Shikamaru Nara x fem reader!

word count: 2k

summary: you have been living in a war with yourself since Neji died.

warnings: angst, mention of death, english is not my first language.

The sunrise over Konoha always came with a warm golden light, but for you, the day always began gray.

You remembered the sky was painted in a perpetual gray the day Neji Hyuga died. As his twin, you felt a part of your soul shatter into a thousand pieces when you saw his lifeless body on the battlefield, and a part of you died with him. Since Neji’s death, the village seemed dimmer, emptier. Neji had been your protector, your friend, and the only person who truly understood you. His absence had left a void no one could fill. He had always been your refuge in a world full of family responsibilities and impossible expectations. But now, you were alone.

Months had passed since his death, but you still felt his loss as an open wound. You constantly forced yourself to maintain composure in front of others, as a good member of the Hyuga clan should, but at night, in the solitude of your room, the tears didn’t ask permission to fall.

The war was over, but the price they paid was unbearable. Everyone in Konoha carried scars, visible or not. But for you, the absence of your brother was a wound that would never fully heal; the scar was permanent and weighed heavier than the one you bore on your forehead. The nights were the worst, a hollow space in your heart that time couldn’t fill.

It was during one of those dark days, months after the war, when Shikamaru Nara began to cross your path. It wasn’t intentional; he was simply there, as if fate had decided to intertwine your lives.

At first, your relationship was purely circumstantial. You had known him your whole life, yet you had never spoken much. Shikamaru had accompanied you on a mission requiring cooperation between clans, and although you both worked well together, there was nothing particularly significant about that first encounter. It was later, after you both returned to Konoha and began running into each other more often, that things began to change—you started to understand each other.

The first meaningful encounter was at the cemetery. You were kneeling in front of Neji’s grave, your fingers brushing the name engraved on the stone. Silent tears streamed down your face when you heard a soft voice behind you.

“I didn’t know you’d be here today.”

You turned and saw Shikamaru, holding a white flower in his hand. It was for Asuma, you supposed. But what you didn’t expect was that, instead of heading directly to his sensei’s grave, Shikamaru sat down next to you.

You didn’t understand why Shikamaru had decided to approach you, but it didn’t bother you either. You sat in silence for a while until he spoke:

“You know, sometimes I feel like memories are heavier than any mission I’ve ever taken on.”

That confession caught you off guard. You glanced at him, seeing his expression turn serious. Shikamaru wasn’t someone who easily shared personal thoughts, which made his words carry more weight.

“I feel the same way,” you admitted in a low voice.

“You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready,” he said, looking at the horizon. “Sometimes, silence is enough.”

And so you stayed there, wordlessly, as the wind whispered through the trees. It was the first moment of peace you had felt in a long time.

That was the first step toward something deeper between you. After that day, you started meeting more often. Shikamaru seemed to have a special knack for appearing when you needed him most, even if you didn’t ask for it. Sometimes it was at the market, where he would offer to help when he saw you carrying more than you could handle; other times, during missions where the tension was palpable. Shikamaru didn’t overwhelm you with questions or try to give motivational speeches. He was simply there, and that was enough.

“You look tired,” he commented once as you walked back to the village together.

“I am,” you admitted, surprised by your own honesty.

“Then rest. No one’s going to blame you for it.”

It was simple, but coming from him, those words carried a special weight. Over time, your conversations began to deepen. You told him about Neji, about how he had been more than just a brother—a guiding light in your life.

“Losing someone like that is like losing a part of yourself,” Shikamaru said one day, his tone full of melancholy.

“How did you get through it?” you asked, referring to Asuma.

"I didn’t," he answered honestly. "I just learned to live with it."

One day, as you walked together through the fields outside the village, you finally let out something you had been burying deep inside since the war.

"It should have been me," you confessed, your voice trembling.

Shikamaru stopped in his tracks, looking at you with a furrowed brow. "What are you talking about?"

"Neji died to protect us. To protect Hinata, Naruto... but I was there too. And I did nothing. I just... I just watched him die."

Your voice broke, and the tears you had been holding back for so long began to fall. It was the first time you had said those words out loud, and the weight of them nearly made you collapse.

Shikamaru didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he stepped toward you and wrapped his arms around you, holding you tightly, giving you the space you so desperately needed. The embrace was warm, safe, and for the first time in months, you allowed yourself to stop being strong in front of others.

"It wasn’t your fault," he whispered. "None of it was. In war, we all lose something, but that doesn’t mean you have to carry it all. It’s not fair to you, and you know he wouldn’t want it to be this way."

You looked at him, surprised by the intensity in his eyes. Shikamaru had also lost someone important, and yet, there he was, trying to be a pillar of strength for you. You admired his resilience.

Despite your growing connection, you were afraid. Shikamaru was patient, always willing to listen, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were dragging him into your darkness. One night, after a team meeting, you confronted him.

"Why are you still here?" you asked, your voice shaking.

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You could be with someone who isn’t broken. Someone who doesn’t carry so much pain."

Shikamaru looked at you intently, his expression serious. "You know what’s exhausting? Chasing ideals of perfection that don’t exist. No one is whole after what we’ve been through. But being broken doesn’t make you any less valuable. It just means you’re human."

Those words broke something inside you. You broke down in front of him again, and he let you, holding you as you cried. Shikamaru said nothing, simply holding you as if he understood that the pain was a weight you couldn’t bear alone.

"How do you keep going?" you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

Shikamaru lowered his gaze, as if the answer were written on the ground beneath his feet. "It’s not easy," he admitted. "It’s not about forgetting, because you never do. It’s more like… learning to live with the pain. Some days are easier than others. But you find reasons to keep going, even if they’re small. A sunset, a conversation… or a moment like this."

You felt your heart clench at his honesty. Shikamaru spoke with a sincerity you didn’t expect, and it disarmed you.

"It’s just..." you began but stopped, unsure of how to express everything you felt.

"It’s just that you don’t know if you’ll find something that makes it all worthwhile," Shikamaru finished for you.

You nodded, surprised that he knew exactly what you were thinking.

"You don’t have to find it right away," he continued. "Sometimes, you just need someone to be with you while you look."

And in that moment, you realized something: Shikamaru wasn’t trying to fix you. He wasn’t trying to erase your pain or minimize it. He was simply willing to stay with you in the storm, and that was more than you had ever expected from anyone.

Over time, your relationship transformed. Shikamaru wasn’t particularly romantic, but his gestures spoke louder than any words. He would show up with a thermos of hot tea on the coldest days, help you train when you felt weak, and always found ways to make you smile, even on the darkest days. Sometimes, he would simply invite you for a walk, taking you to quiet places where you could talk or enjoy the silence.

You had started noticing little details about him that you had previously overlooked—the way he squinted his eyes when deep in thought or how his rare smile had the power to make you feel lighter.

One afternoon, as you sat by the river together, you looked at him and felt a pang of something you hadn’t experienced in a long time: hope.

"Thank you," you said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence between you.

"For what?" Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For staying. For not giving up on me."

He smiled, but there was something serious in his gaze. "You know, I’ve always thought that the people who matter are the ones who stay, even when it’s hard. And you’re one of those people for me."

His words took your breath away. You didn’t know how to respond, so you simply nodded, feeling the weight in your chest lift a little for the first time.

He understood it was hard for you to open up again. He never pressured you to do so and simply enjoyed your company.

However, the path to healing wasn’t easy. There were days when guilt and pain crushed you, nights when you woke up crying after dreaming of Neji. But now, instead of facing it alone, you had Shikamaru.

On one of those difficult nights, when memories of the war felt overwhelming, you decided to seek him out. You didn’t know if it was the right thing to do, if you were crossing a line, but before you knew it, you were standing at his door.

When Shikamaru opened it, his face showed a mix of surprise and concern.

"Is everything okay?" he asked immediately, cupping your face with his warm hands to inspect you.

You just shook your head, unable to speak, and he didn’t need any more explanation. He let you in immediately, guiding you to his room, where he offered you a blanket and a cup of tea. He listened as you talked about what you had dreamed, about what you felt.

"I feel broken," you said finally, your voice trembling.

"Then I’ll be the missing pieces," Shikamaru replied, his tone so sure it almost made you believe it was possible.

And in that moment, something in you changed. It wasn’t complete healing, but it was a beginning.

But like any great story, your relationship faced its own battles. Neji’s shadow still loomed over you, and there were days when his memory consumed you. Shikamaru, with his infinite patience, was always there to remind you that you didn’t have to fight alone.

"This is a war, you know?" he said one night, as he helped you calm down after a nightmare. Your back was against his chest, one of his arms wrapped around you while the other softly stroked your hair.

"What war?"

"The one you’re fighting with yourself. And I’m not going to let you lose."

Those words stayed with you, etched into your soul—a constant reminder that, although life was hard, you weren’t alone.

As time passed, the wound Neji left began to heal—not because you had forgotten him, but because you had found someone willing to share that pain with you. You grieved in the right way, and though you could never forget him, it no longer hurt as much to think of his smile. Shikamaru didn’t replace your brother, but he became something just as important: a companion, a support… a home.

And even though the internal war was still present, you knew that with him by your side, you could face anything.

Over time, your relationship evolved. What began as silent support turned into something deeper. Shikamaru taught you that you didn’t have to carry all the weight alone, that it was okay to lean on someone else.

One day, as you were walking through the forest, you suddenly stopped in your tracks.

"Shikamaru, do you think Neji would be okay with this? With us, I mean."

He looked at you seriously before replying, "I think Neji wanted you to be happy. And if this—us—gives you some peace, then yes, I think he would be okay with it."

You smiled, a small but sincere gesture. For the first time in a long while, you felt like you could look toward the future without the constant weight of the past.

The days were no longer gray. Even though the pain of loss never fully disappeared, you had learned to live with it, like an old scar that no longer hurt as much. And with Shikamaru by your side, the dark moments were more bearable.

Together, you found balance, a way to move forward without forgetting what you had lost. And as you both watched the sunrise from the top of a hill, you realized that although the war had left deep scars, it had also given you something precious: someone willing to fight alongside you, even in the toughest battles.

pairing: Sasuke Uchiha x fem reader!

word count: 3k

summary: You have to live with the fact that Sasuke left the village.

warnings; angst, english is not my first language.

note: I have a love-hate relationship with Sasuke, but here’s another story, I hope you like it. Remember to check out the other stories I’ve uploaded. Thank you for the support you’ve given me!

The air was cold that night when Sasuke Uchiha left the village. To many, it was merely the act of a young man seeking power. But to you, it meant something else: the breaking of a bond you had sworn to protect.

Months had passed since his departure, but you still felt the void. At night, you remembered the days when you were just children, his gaze filled with sadness but also with hope. You used to sit next to him in the training field, offering moments of peace just with your presence, always ensuring he knew he wasn’t alone.

"Pain doesn’t define you, Sasuke," you had told him once. "You can use it to become stronger, but don’t let it consume you."

Those words felt so hollow now. He had forgotten them, or maybe he had never truly heard them.

The first time you saw him after he left was at the Valley of the End when Naruto pursued him to bring him back. You arrived late, too late. You found him standing there, his gaze cold as steel, looking at Naruto with detachment, at the boy who had been his best friend and now lay unconscious on the ground from Sasuke’s attacks.

The Valley of the End was wrapped in an unsettling and torturous silence; the battle was over, and Sasuke Uchiha stood before you. His eyes were cold and resolute, as if the boy who once shared his secrets, fears, and dreams no longer existed. To you, he wasn’t just another rogue ninja who had abandoned Konoha; he was the person you had given your heart to.

And now, you stood here, facing each other as enemies.

"Sasuke," you called, your voice broken with emotion.

He turned slowly toward you, his dark gaze locking onto yours. There was something strange in his expression, a mix of surprise and something you couldn’t quite decipher—a flicker of recognition that quickly faded.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said coldly.

You took a step forward, your eyes fighting against tears threatening to fall. "I can’t let you go down this path. Not like this."

"Do you really think you can stop me?" he asked, his tone full of mockery.

Swallowing hard, your heart pounded against your chest so fiercely that you felt even he could hear it. "I’m not here to fight you, Sasuke. I’m here because I care about you. Because I know there’s still good in you."

"You have no right to stop me," he replied. "This is what I need to do. You wouldn’t understand."

"Wouldn’t understand?" your voice cracked. "Sasuke, I’ve been with you from the beginning. I’ve seen how pain consumes you. But this… this isn’t justice. This is self-destruction."

He clenched his fists, his gaze hardening. "I don’t care what you think. This is for my clan. For my family."

"You once said I was your family too," you whispered.

For a moment, something seemed to shift in his expression. A spark of doubt. But it was fleeting.

"What we had doesn’t matter anymore," he said finally. "I can’t afford to be weak. I can’t afford to love you."

Those words hit you like a kunai to the chest. "Weak? Is that what you think I am to you?"

He admitted, almost in a whisper, "You’re the only thing that makes me hesitate."

Taking another step toward him, ignoring the distance he tried to maintain between you, you said, "Then don’t go, Sasuke. Stay and fight with me. Not against me."

He closed his eyes, as if your words tortured him. "I can’t."

Before you could respond, Sasuke raised his hand and stopped you with his Sharingan. In an instant, you felt immobilized, a tear rolling down your cheek.

"I’m sorry," was the last thing you heard before he disappeared into the distance.

When you regained control of your body, you fell to your knees on the hard ground, though you didn’t feel any physical pain. Your chest burned with a mix of rage and despair. You knew you had tried everything, that you had given everything. But even then, it hadn’t been enough to save him.

Returning to Konoha after that encounter felt like carrying an unbearable weight. Your brother Kakashi tried to comfort you, but even he knew there were no words to heal the wound Sasuke had left behind. Every day, you wondered if there was more you could have done, something that might have prevented his departure.

You had shared moments no one else knew, words that only made sense between the two of you.

The last time you had seen him before his departure, Sasuke was sitting on the same bench where he used to train with his team, the same place where you kissed for the first time. His face was a mask of indifference, but you knew that facade all too well.

"Sasuke, you can’t keep going like this, fighting Naruto, fighting all of us. We’re not your enemies," you told him as you sat down beside him.

"You have no idea what I need," he replied, not looking at you.

"Yes, I do," you insisted, reaching for his hand, though he pulled away. "I know you’re hurting, that you think the only way to find peace is through vengeance. But it won’t bring back what you lost."

He finally looked at you, and in his eyes, you saw something that made you shudder—a mix of despair and determination. "I can’t stay here. I can’t be weak."

"You’re choosing to destroy everything good you have. You realize that, don’t you?" Your voice broke as you spoke.

"What I have isn’t enough," he said, his final words before walking away, leaving you alone under the moonlight.

You didn’t go after him, nor did you tell anyone he had left. You gave him time to follow his path. That’s what he wanted, and there was nothing you could do to stop it.

In the days that followed, you avoided everyone, even Kakashi. You couldn’t stand the questions or the pitying looks your friends gave you. Your nights were spent sitting on that same bench, remembering his laughter, his fleeting smile, and the promises that had never been fulfilled.

Your tears couldn’t bring him back, yet they kept falling, echoing inside you as a painful reminder of what you had lost.

But deep down, you knew Sasuke still remembered you. You weren’t deluding yourself; you truly felt he thought of you, even if he chose the path of darkness. And that, though painful, was enough to keep a small spark of hope alive within you—a hope that one day he would find his way back.

Because even if your tears fell into the void, your love for him continued to shine like a beacon, waiting for the moment you could see him again.

Time had done nothing but deepen the wounds left by Sasuke’s departure. Years had passed since that night, and though you tried to move on by dating other boys, his absence remained a shadow that never left you.

You had spent all this time silently praying that he would return to Konoha safe and sound, that he would understand the path he had chosen wasn’t the only one. But every piece of news about his dark deeds, every encounter he had with Naruto or Sakura, felt like a dagger plunging deeper into your chest. You knew Sasuke was further away than ever—not just physically, but emotionally.

And now, you saw him again, standing before his former teammates in a desolate field, the pale moonlight bathing them all. Sasuke had changed. His presence was colder, more imposing, and... darker. There was no trace left of the boy he had been. His gaze, filled with more hatred and determination than ever before, left no doubt: he was ready to destroy everything he once loved.

You wondered if you were on that list.

Naruto, stubborn as always, was the first to leap into action. His voice was filled with emotion. "Sasuke! It doesn’t have to be this way! Come back with us!"

But Sasuke didn’t reply. With his Sharingan activated, he moved with lethal precision, countering Naruto’s attacks with almost cruel ease. Sakura, seeing that Naruto stood no chance, tried to intervene, hoping her words could stop him, but Sasuke didn’t even glance at her.

The tension in the air was unbearable. Naruto and Sasuke exchanged brutal attacks, both driven by uncontrollable emotions, seemingly ready to kill each other. Sasuke was determined to fulfill his mission, but Naruto, as stubborn as ever, wouldn’t let his friend cross that line without a fight.

You watched from a distance, allowed on the mission only if you didn’t interfere. Your heart was torn between fear and despair. You knew you couldn’t stand aside for much longer. Even if Kakashi would scold you later, Sasuke was lost—but something in his eyes still screamed for help.

“Sasuke!” you finally shouted, trying to approach as chakra explosions lit up the battlefield.

For a moment, he froze. His gaze locked onto you, and something in his eyes changed. He seemed confused, even surprised. He hadn’t sensed your chakra and didn’t realize you’d been there all along.

“What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here,” he asked, his tone cold but with a flicker of something he couldn’t identify.

Naruto turned toward you. “Y/N! Stay back! It’s too dangerous!”

But you deliberately ignored the warning, driven by an impulse you couldn’t control. If anyone could reach Sasuke, if anyone could break through the hatred surrounding him, it was you.

In the heat of battle, Sasuke unleashed a Chidori aimed at Naruto. The sound of crackling chakra filled the air, and Naruto barely had time to dodge. The force of the attack created a shockwave that knocked you off balance as you tried to get closer to them.

“Watch out!” Naruto shouted, but it was too late.

Sasuke adjusted his attack, and in the chaos of the moment, he didn’t see you in its path.

The Chidori struck you squarely in the side, and you let out a cry of pain. Everything seemed to stop in that instant—Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura froze, watching as you fell to the ground.

Sasuke slowly lowered his hand, his eyes wide as he realized what he’d done.

“No…” he murmured, taking a step toward you. “This wasn’t meant for you… you weren’t supposed to be here.”

Naruto rushed to your side, ignoring Sasuke completely. He knelt beside you, pressing against the wound to stop the bleeding. “Stay with me, Y/N! Don’t you dare close your eyes!”

You looked at Sasuke, your lips trembling and your eyes filled with tears. Despite the pain, you gave a weak smile. “Sasuke… this wasn’t how I planned to stop you.”

Sasuke took a step back, his breathing quickening as he looked at his trembling hands. “This… this isn’t what I wanted.”

Naruto raised his voice, furious. “Look at what you’ve done! Is this what you want, Sasuke? To destroy everything and everyone who ever mattered to you? The one person who loves you and still believes in you!”

Sakura ran over with a medical kit, her hands shaking as she tried to stabilize you. “Hang on, please. We’ll get you to the hospital, but you need to stay awake.”

You, however, kept your eyes on Sasuke. You knew what he was thinking. “It’s not… your fault,” you whispered, barely audible.

For a moment, he seemed to waver. His hands trembled slightly, and his gaze softened. But then something within him hardened again, as though an invisible barrier shielded him from his emotions.

Sasuke clenched his fists, his face a mixture of anger and guilt. “I… can’t stay here.”

And with those words, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving the others to deal with the chaos he had caused.

When you woke up, you were in the hospital. The room was silent except for the faint beeping of the monitor tracking your vital signs. Naruto sat by your bed, his head in his hands.

“Naruto,” you said weakly.

He quickly lifted his head, his eyes red from crying. “You’re awake! You have no idea how worried we were.”

You tried to smile, but the pain stopped you. “What about Sasuke?”

Naruto looked down, clenching his fists. “He’s gone. Again. But this time…” His voice cracked. “This time, he almost killed you.”

“It wasn’t intentional,” you whispered.

“That doesn’t matter!” Naruto shouted, standing up. “He hurt you, left you like this, and you still defend him. Wake up, Y/N! We can’t keep fooling ourselves, thinking he’ll come back!”

You closed your eyes, tears streaming down your cheeks. “I know he didn’t mean to. I saw his face, Naruto. He’s not entirely gone. There’s still something left of him inside.”

Naruto sighed, sitting back down. “And what if he never changes? What if this is who he is now?”

“Then I’ll keep believing,” you said firmly, even though your voice was barely audible. “Because someone has to. And if no one else will, I will.”

The days that followed your recovery were a whirlwind of emotions. The physical pain from the wound Sasuke had inflicted on you was nothing compared to the emotional weight you carried. Despite everything, you couldn’t hate him. You couldn’t stop loving the person he had been and, even more so, the person you still believed he could be.

Naruto and Sakura tried to protect you and offer comfort, as if doing so could erase the damage Sasuke had caused, but you knew they couldn’t fully understand what you felt. Naruto was determined to bring him back, but his approach was that of a friend willing to fight him if necessary. Sakura, on her part, seemed torn between rage and sadness.

But to you, Sasuke was not just a target or a lost companion. He was someone you had shared your dreams, your fears, and your love with. And even though the Sasuke you knew seemed to have vanished, that little spark you had seen in his eyes during the battle was enough to fuel your foolish hope.

One night, while resting in the hospital, you received a visit. Kakashi entered the room with a serious expression, though his eyes showed a warmth rarely seen in him.

“How do you feel, monster?” he asked, approaching your bed.

“Better,” you replied, though you knew your brother could see through your façade.

Kakashi sighed and sat in a chair next to you. “I found this on the battlefield after Sasuke left.” He pulled out a small folded piece of paper and placed it in your hand.

You carefully opened it, your heart beating fast. You recognized Sasuke’s handwriting immediately.

I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to hurt you. But I can’t stop. I can’t return yet.

Tears began to run down your face as you read those words. It was little, barely a trace of regret, but to you, it meant everything. It was proof that there was still some humanity in him, something fighting against the darkness consuming him.

Kakashi silently watched you, giving you the space you needed while softly caressing your hair. Finally, when you felt ready, you spoke:

“Thank you for bringing it to me. I know you’d rather have hidden it and made me forget.”

“I knew it would mean something to you,” he said softly. “I’ve understood that I can’t stop you no matter how much I want to. I won’t deny I want him to come back, but I love you too much to see you suffer again. You also need to take care of yourself. You can’t save him if you lose yourself in the process.”

You simply nodded, though you knew it would be easier said than done.

As the days passed, your determination grew. You decided you would not give up on Sasuke just yet, but you wouldn’t remain defenseless either. If there was something you could do, it was to strengthen yourself, to prepare for the day you would meet him again. If necessary, you would fight.

Naruto, though initially reluctant, began to train alongside you as in the old days, helping you regain your strength after the injury. Sakura also joined, teaching you basic medical techniques so that you could take care of yourself on the battlefield. It was as if they both understood that you needed to be ready for anything.

Every night, you looked at the piece of paper Kakashi had given you, its words etched in your heart. You didn’t know when you would see Sasuke again, but you knew you would. And when that moment came, you would be ready.

Weeks later, during a mission with Naruto and Sakura, you found him. You had been tracking him for weeks. He was standing in a clearing in the forest, his figure wrapped in his black cloak with red clouds. His dark hair fell over his eyes, and his expression was as cold as always.

“I told you to stop following me,” he said, not turning toward them.

Naruto moved forward, ready to confront him, but you stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“Let me talk to him,” you asked softly.

Naruto hesitated, but finally nodded, trusting you, stepping back as you moved forward.

“Sasuke,” you said as you approached him. “I’m not here to stop you. I just want to understand.”

He finally turned to look at you, and on his face was something different, something you hadn’t seen in a long time.

“There’s nothing to understand, Y/N,” he responded, though his voice lacked the usual harshness.

“Yes, there is,” you insisted, taking another step closer. “I know there’s still something in you, something real, that’s fighting against this darkness. I saw it the last time.”

Sasuke stared at you, taking the time to see the details of your face that had changed since he last saw you as children. His face was a mask of conflicting emotions. Finally, he sighed and said, “This doesn’t change anything. You can’t keep doing this, risking yourself for someone like me.”

“You know I will,” you said with a playful tone he hadn’t heard in a long time and had imagined in his nights. “Because I still believe in you. And I always will.”

For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and both of you returned to being those innocent children who found refuge in each other. Sasuke didn’t say anything, but his expression spoke for him. There was pain, regret, and perhaps a spark of hope.

Without saying another word, Sasuke turned and began to walk away, his figure disappearing among the trees. But this time, you didn’t feel defeated. You knew you had planted a seed in his heart, one that might someday grow.

And as you watched him disappear, you made a silent promise:

No matter how long it takes, I won’t let you lose yourself completely.

pairing: Shikamaru Nara x fem reader!

word count: 3k

summary: Naruto is always distant, and you find refuge in Shikamaru.

warnings; little angst, infidelity, english is not my first language.

note: I'm a little obsessed with Naruto right now, the next one is about Sasuke. Shikamaru is my favorite, however, in most of my stories he's the second option, poor guy.

Let me know what you thinks!

The village of Konoha was living in days of peace, but within your heart, the storm was constant. Since you had started your relationship with Naruto Uzumaki, everything seemed perfect from the outside. He was a hero, the Hokage, the man everyone admired. But within your relationship, the cracks were evident.

Naruto was always busy. Endless meetings, urgent missions, and political decisions kept him away. At first, you understood; being Hokage was a dream he had pursued his whole life. But over time, the loneliness began to carve deeply into your chest. The nights you stayed awake waiting, the days when you barely crossed paths, and the conversations that always felt incomplete made something inside you break.

That was when Shikamaru appeared.

He was a close friend of Naruto, his right hand in village matters. But as time went on, he began to be more than just an ally to you. At first, your meetings were casual. Shikamaru, with his calm and reflective demeanor, always made time to stop and listen to you.

“How are you?” he asked one day as you walked together through the Hokage’s gardens.

You hesitated before answering, but the sincerity in his eyes disarmed you. “I’m… tired, I think.”

“Tired of what?”

“Of waiting.”

You didn’t need to say more. Shikamaru understood without many words. He didn’t try to justify Naruto or minimize how you felt. Instead, he just stayed there, listening. That small gesture was the beginning of something you couldn’t stop.

As the days passed, your conversations with Shikamaru became more frequent. He appeared in the moments you needed him most—whether to share a cup of tea, help with something trivial, or simply sit silently by your side.

Weeks later, you decided to do something different. You went to the salon and cut your hair. Although it was a small change, it was significant to you. You’d always worn it down to your waist, and now it barely reached your shoulders. It was a fresher, more practical style. However, when you arrived at the Hokage’s office, where you usually worked on your boyfriend’s paperwork, no one seemed to notice. Not even him, who saw you all day.

A little disappointed, you left the office and decided to take a walk in the park. As you strolled, you thought maybe it wasn’t so important after all. Sometimes you felt the things that mattered to you went unnoticed in the daily routine.

At that moment, someone stopped you with a relaxed voice.

“Wow, did you cut your hair?” Shikamaru asked, looking at your new appearance with a discreet smile.

You turned, surprised by his observation. “Oh, yeah… I thought no one had noticed.”

Shikamaru studied your features for a few seconds longer, making you feel slightly uncomfortable. “I think it looks good on you,” he said with a small smile, his eyes shining with the sincerity of his compliment. “It makes you look more… refreshed, in a way.”

You blushed, surprised at how genuine he sounded. “Thank you, Shikamaru.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice as calm as ever. “It’s easy to notice those details when you spend time with someone.”

Your heart beat a little faster. “That’s true,” you said, lowering your gaze, trying to hide the warmth you felt hearing those words. You couldn’t help but feel a little more special when Shikamaru observed you with such unique attention.

“Well,” Shikamaru continued after a brief silence, “maybe I’ll see you more often to keep noticing those details.” His tone was relaxed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

You looked at him, finding in his expression something that seemed to suggest there was more behind those words—something you couldn’t quite identify.

“That would be nice,” you finally said, smiling faintly. But inside, your mind was elsewhere, thinking about how he made you feel. Like you were the only person who truly mattered.

You used to see each other occasionally in the afternoons, talking about everything and nothing.

"It's complicated, isn't it?" he said one evening as the two of you watched the sunset from the Hokage mountain.

"What is?"

"Loving someone who always seems out of reach."

You looked at him, surprised. There was something in his tone that made you think he understood exactly how you felt.

"Shikamaru, I..."

"You don't have to say anything," he interrupted with a faint smile. "I just want you to know that I understand. And that I'm here."

Those words stayed with you. That night, when Naruto came home late again, barely kissing you before collapsing into bed, you couldn't stop thinking about Shikamaru. About how his presence had become a refuge you didn’t realize you needed.

The tension between you two grew slowly, almost imperceptibly. One day, while sorting through some documents in the Hokage's office, Shikamaru reached for a scroll you couldn’t quite grab. Your hands brushed, and it was as if the air in the room became heavier.

You both paused, simply looking at each other before you stepped back and Shikamaru cleared his throat.

Shikamaru gave a faint smile and sat by your desk. "Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?"

You sighed, letting frustration show on your face for a moment. "It’s just... I don’t know what to do. I feel like everything is slipping through my fingers. Naruto... he’s always so busy, and I’m... here, waiting for something to change, but nothing ever does."

Shikamaru listened in silence, observing you. "I get it," he said finally. "And it’s hard, isn’t it? Waiting for something that never comes."

You looked at him, surprised by the empathy in his words. "Yeah, that’s it. I feel invisible, like I don’t exist when he’s caught up in his responsibilities. I can’t keep living like this, Shikamaru."

There was a long silence between you, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, it felt as if your hearts were in sync, sharing an understanding that didn’t need to be voiced.

"How you feel matters," Shikamaru said softly. "And you don’t have to carry all this on your own."

This time, you saw something in his eyes you hadn’t noticed before. He wasn’t just Naruto’s friend; he was someone who truly saw you. Something inside you, something you’d kept buried for so long, began to stir.

"Thank you for listening," you said, your voice betraying a vulnerability you didn’t know you’d let slip. "Sometimes, I just need someone to see me."

"I’ll always see you," Shikamaru replied, taking a step closer almost unconsciously.

That small action was enough to quicken both your heartbeats, but neither of you moved further. You were trapped in that moment, where the air seemed charged with everything unspoken. You both knew something had shifted between you, but neither dared to admit it.

"Shikamaru..." you murmured, meeting his eyes.

You both knew there was something there. But neither of you knew if you were ready for the next step.

You felt your heart racing and your chest tightening. Everything you had been avoiding stood right before you in the figure of Shikamaru. Somehow, he had become your only source of solace.

"This is wrong," you murmured, quickly pulling away and breaking the mood in the room.

"I know," Shikamaru replied, his voice low and heavy with emotion. "But I can't help it."

That confession changed everything. From that moment, you began to question everything. Was it fair to stay with Naruto when you felt your heart leaning toward someone else? Was this a betrayal or simply the result of being neglected for so long?

It seemed as though you and Shikamaru had reached an unspoken agreement. You both carried on as usual, with him continuing to win your heart through his attentions. Neither of you mentioned what had happened in the office again.

Weeks later, you stayed late at work, going over reports. When you finally left the Hokage building, you decided to walk through the empty streets, hoping the fresh air might clear your mind.

As you walked, you heard soft footsteps behind you. Turning around, there he was—Shikamaru, hands in his pockets and his usual calm expression on his face.

"Can't sleep, Shikamaru?" you asked, noticing the familiar pensive look in his eyes.

"It's harder to sleep with so much on my mind," he replied, walking alongside you. "Besides, I was curious to see if you’d be out here, wandering through the village."

You smiled faintly. "At this hour? I didn’t expect to see anyone."

"Neither did I." Shikamaru stepped closer, the streetlights partially illuminating his face. "What's bothering you? You seem... distant tonight."

"I'm just thinking about things," you said, unsure whether you wanted to share everything you were feeling.

"You know I'm here if you need to talk," he said, his tone more serious now. His eyes locked onto yours, as though he could see beyond your words, understanding what you weren’t saying.

You sighed, feeling the weight of everything you'd been carrying. "It's complicated. I'm caught between what I want and what I should do. Between what I feel and what I’m supposed to feel."

Shikamaru stopped in front of you, forcing your gaze to meet his in the dim light of the night. "Sometimes," he said softly, "choices aren’t easy, but what truly matters is what you feel—what you really want, even if it’s hard."

You bit your lip, holding his gaze. "It's hard not to think about everything I could lose."

"It is," Shikamaru admitted.

But right now, I just want you to know you don’t have to carry all of this alone."

The air between you grew heavy with silence, a silence that spoke volumes. In that moment, you felt an overwhelming desire to be near him. Your heart pounded in your chest, and though you knew you should pull away, you couldn’t—or didn’t want to.

Without a word, Shikamaru stepped closer. You watched him, his expression calm yet intense. The tension was written on his face, in his gaze. Then, without thinking, he pulled you toward him, his hands settling on your waist as your lips met in a kiss that was soft yet full of everything unsaid between you.

The world seemed to stop in that moment. You closed your eyes, feeling Shikamaru hold you with unexpected gentleness, shielding you from everything else. But as the kiss deepened, the desire and passion that had been building for days erupted.

The kiss needed no words. Everything you had shared and felt was expressed in that single moment.

The kiss lingered, and in that instant, you both knew there was no going back. Yet, neither of you needed more answers. You had been honest, even without words, and what was growing between you couldn’t be ignored.

"Don’t kiss me again," you said, unable to meet his eyes. "And don’t talk to me anymore."

Then you walked away, leaving Shikamaru standing there, his gaze distant as he cursed himself for ruining everything.

The guilt consumed you, but so did the desire. It didn’t take long for you to break. One rainy afternoon, you found yourself standing at Shikamaru’s door, drenched and unable to hold back any longer.

He opened the door and looked at you with that gaze that made you feel like the only person in the world. He didn’t say a word.

"I shouldn’t be here," you said, trembling from both the rain and your emotions.

"Then leave," Shikamaru replied, though his eyes told a different story.

But you didn’t leave. Instead, you stepped closer. Time seemed to freeze as your lips met again in a desperate kiss—one filled with guilt, longing, and something deeper: the feeling of being truly seen, of being wanted.

That night, when you returned home with a bittersweet smile, Naruto was waiting for you. You were soaked from the rain, and your heart felt heavy. He looked at you with a tired smile.

"Sorry for being so absent lately," he said sincerely. "I know I haven’t been the best. I just need you to have a little more patience with me."

His words hit you like a tidal wave. You wanted to cry from the guilt of what you had done with Shikamaru, but you held back. You didn’t have the courage to confess. Instead, you nodded, walking into the bathroom, feeling the weight of your secret pulling you down even further.

A few days after that kiss, you couldn’t stop thinking about it. The secret gnawed at you, but you couldn’t help seeking out Shikamaru at the most unexpected moments. Every encounter, every word, felt like an invitation to cross a line you weren’t sure you could return from.

That afternoon, as you walked through the Hokage’s halls, you saw Shikamaru waiting outside the office, as if he had been expecting you. The look you exchanged was enough to confirm what you both knew—there was no turning back.

"Where are you going?" Shikamaru asked, his voice calm, though his eyes held a restrained intensity.

"I don’t know," you replied with a nervous smile. "Maybe I’m just trying to clear my thoughts."

Shikamaru stepped closer, placing his hands gently on your shoulders. "What are you running from?" he asked, his gaze piercing into yours.

You couldn’t help but feel vulnerable under his stare, your heart racing. "I’m not running," you said, though your voice trembled. "I’m just... scared."

"Scared of what?" he asked, his fingers lightly brushing your arm.

"Of what this means," you admitted, meeting his eyes. "Of what happened between us. I don’t know if I’m ready for the consequences."

Shikamaru looked deeply into your eyes, as if he could see your soul. "You don’t have to be afraid of what you feel," he said softly, moving closer. "I know this isn’t easy, but if we don’t try, we’ll never know what could’ve been."

You felt trapped in that moment—caught between duty, fear, and the undeniable feelings you had for him. You didn’t want to hurt Naruto, but you also couldn’t ignore your heart.

"And what if this is all a mistake?" you asked, your voice breaking with uncertainty.

"It’s not," Shikamaru said with conviction, gently touching your face. "Because what I feel for you is real, and that’s all that matters."

You couldn’t say anything more. Silently, you let yourself be swept up by him again. His lips found yours in a passionate kiss, sealing what you both already knew: that despite the doubts, the pull between you was irresistible.

The world kept turning, but in that kiss, everything else faded away.

Weeks passed, and though you tried to maintain your relationship with Naruto as normal as possible, something had broken between you two. You no longer waited up for him late at night, nor did you plead for his attention. The sporadic encounters with Shikamaru became more intense, filled with meaning. Every time he looked at you, his gaze seemed to understand something you couldn’t put into words. And yet, despite your efforts to hide it, the tension was undeniable.

It was then that Naruto began to notice. Perhaps he didn’t voice it immediately, but the small signs were unmistakable. The days when she came home late or spent more time working. Sometimes, he found himself watching how Shikamaru approached her more often and how their conversations seemed longer, more meaningful. It wasn’t a single gesture but rather an accumulation of small moments that made him feel a growing unease.

One day, after an important meeting in the Hokage's office, Naruto watched you as you laughed at something Shikamaru had said, your face lit up with a genuine smile—something he hadn’t seen in a long time. When your eyes met Naruto’s, you quickly greeted him and walked away, but he noticed something in your gaze: avoidance. Something had changed.

That night, Naruto couldn’t sleep. The feeling in his chest wouldn’t let him rest. The emptiness he felt, the growing distance between you, was impossible to ignore, so he decided to confront you.

The next day, Naruto came home early, determined to resolve the doubts that had been tormenting him. When he arrived, you were in the living room, reading some papers.

“We need to talk,” Naruto said, his voice serious and firm, something you hadn’t heard in a long time.

You looked up, and instantly you knew that the confrontation you had been avoiding was finally here. Slowly, you stood up, trying to remain calm. “What do you want to talk about?”

“About you and Shikamaru,” Naruto said, the words coming out colder than he intended. “Lately, I’ve noticed something strange between you two. I don’t know if it’s just me, but... what’s going on?”

You felt like the air had been knocked out of your lungs. The truth was there, clear as water, but you didn’t know how to say it. “Naruto, it’s not what you think…” you began, but the words didn’t come out the way you intended.

“No,” Naruto interrupted, his gaze fixed on you. “You don’t understand. I’ve been watching. I saw the way you look at each other, the way you talk. Do you think I’m stupid? You can’t hide that from me.”

“At least now you notice me!” you exclaimed, more frustrated than you meant to. “It’s just that… I don’t know what to do anymore! I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know what I want, and you… you’re never here. You’re always tied up with your responsibilities, always busy and distant. You leave for weeks, and when you come back, you barely notice me. I don’t know how to deal with all of this. And when I talk to Shikamaru, he listens. He’s here. He cares.”

Naruto looked at you, his eyes filled with pain but also understanding. “And what am I supposed to do, huh?” he asked, his tone tinged with frustration. “Give up everything I do for you? I can’t change who I am, Y/n. I can’t stop being Hokage.”

“It’s not just that, Naruto!” you cried, tears welling up in your eyes. “It’s that… I’ve always waited for you, always tried to be patient. But patience runs out. I feel alone, like I don’t matter. Like everything I am isn’t enough. And Shikamaru, he… he makes me feel seen. He makes me feel alive, like I actually matter.”

The declaration left them in silence. Naruto said nothing at first. He just looked at you, as if words weren’t enough to express the pain he felt. But after a few seconds of quiet reflection, Naruto took a step toward you.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “I’m sorry if I’ve failed you. If I made you feel alone, if I made you feel like you didn’t matter. That was never my intention. Maybe I was so focused on my responsibilities that I didn’t see how you were feeling. I’m sorry.”

You looked at him, surprised. You weren’t used to hearing an apology from him, much less one so sincere. “Naruto, I… I don’t want you to apologize,” you said, your voice breaking. “I don’t want you to change. I just want you to see what I needed. Just… to see me.”

Naruto looked into your eyes, and for a moment, all the noise in his heart faded. “I forgive you,” he finally said, his tone filled with a quiet pain. “I forgive you because I understand what you need. And if Shikamaru makes you feel something I couldn’t, then… I understand. I don’t want you to keep living with this emptiness. But I want you with me. I promise I’ll be better. I know we can make it. But it’s your decision, and whatever it is, I’ll understand.”

You just looked at him, feeling the depth of his words, but you couldn’t avoid the sadness filling your chest. “It’s not that easy, Naruto. It’s not that simple.”

Naruto sighed, and for a second, he seemed lost in his thoughts. “I know,” he murmured. “I know. But if one day you decide I’m the one who makes you feel alive, you know I’ll be here, waiting.”

You looked at him, feeling a mix of love, sadness, and relief. “I know,” you whispered.

He left a kiss on your forehead as he walked out of the house you had chosen together with so much hope, leaving you with a decision to make.

pairing: Naruto Uzumaki x fem reader!

word count: 1 k

summary: The daughter of Jiraiya notices how everyone seems to see her father in her.

warnings; little angst, english is not my first language.

The afternoon in Konoha was calm, the sun bathing the streets in its golden light. A beautiful figure with white hair walked through the market, drawing the attention of a few curious onlookers. You were not someone easy to ignore: your elegant bearing, your long hair inherited from your father, Jiraiya, and the intense eyes that seemed to see through people—how could you go unnoticed when you were the only daughter of the legendary Sannin?

You had returned to Konoha after years of living far away. Your father's stories had always surrounded you, a man you almost never saw and didn't feel you ever truly got to know, yet whose shadow you constantly felt breathing down your neck. Since you were little, you had heard rumors, tales about his charisma and, of course, about his relationship with Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage.

Naruto was everything you admired. His energy, his smile, and the way he spoke about the people he loved had captivated you since the day you met him. You knew you had also caused that effect on him; it was undeniable that both of you felt something for each other, and the only thing holding you back from advancing was the weight of your father.

Although Naruto didn't try to hide that he liked you, there was something unsettling about the way he looked at you. A mix of nostalgia and sadness that you couldn’t decipher.

One day, while you were training in a secluded clearing, Tsunade appeared to watch you. You had always respected her as your mentor, having known her since you were a child, but there was something more between you two, something you could never explain—Tsunade looked at you as though she saw a ghost, and you were starting to get tired of it.

"Is there something wrong with me?" you asked one afternoon, sitting next to the Sannin on the bleachers of the training field.

Tsunade sighed, placing a hand to her forehead. "Not with you. But sometimes… when I look at you, I can't help but remember someone else."

"My father?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Not exactly. It’s more complicated than that. It's like you’re the answer to questions I could never ask."

You shifted uncomfortably. You knew something had happened between them that was never resolved. Despite it all, you had loved your father, that man who, though you barely remembered, used to take you to the lake when he visited and shower you with gifts, the one who taught you your first summoning. Of course, you had loved him, and his death had brought you great pain. But now, you no longer wanted to be trapped in his shadow, chasing and never reaching a ghost.

That conversation left you unsettled. You didn’t have time to dig deeper because Naruto invited you to join his team for an important mission. It was your chance to prove that you were not just Jiraiya's daughter, but someone capable of forging your own ninja path.

However, while working together, that discomfort resurfaced. Naruto smiled at you and treated you with his usual warmth, but there were moments when he would just stare at you, almost lost in his thoughts.

"Naruto-sama," you said one night while camping, "Is there something you want to tell me? Because I feel like you always look at me as if you’re expecting something from me."

He seemed surprised by the question but didn't deny anything. "It’s complicated, Y/n. Sometimes, I feel like… I already knew you before you got here. Like the universe is showing me something I forgot."

The conversation lingered between you two, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he truly felt a real connection with you or if it was all related to his father. Was she a reflection of Jiraiya? Or was there something more?

Tsunade sought you out after the mission. "Your father had a deep love for many things, Y/n. But one of the few things he regretted was not being here to see how Naruto fulfilled his dreams, and his greatest regret was not having spent enough time with you. And now, every time I see you with Naruto, I can’t help but think… is this what Jiraiya would have wanted? That his daughter found something special in the boy he always admired?"

You understood then. It wasn’t just your physical resemblance to Jiraiya that left everyone confused. It was the way you connected with Naruto, as if you were destined to meet.

One day, while training together, you decided to speak up. "Naruto, I’m not my father. I’m not an echo of him. I am me. And if I stay here, close to you, it’s not because I feel obligated by what you two shared, it’s not because I want to hear about how he was, because I didn’t know him as well as you did… If I stay here, it’s because I want to be here. With you."

Naruto looked at you, first surprised, then slowly, a smile began to form on his face. "I know. And I’m grateful for that. I really like you, not because you’re his daughter… I like everything about you, and what you represent. I admire you so much."

For the first time, you felt like you didn’t have to prove anything, nor fill the void for someone else. You were forging something new, something that was all your own.

pairing: Naruto Uzumaki x fem uchiha reader!

word count: 1457 k

summary: You decide to leave Konoha

warnings; angst, english is not my first language.

part one

The days following Naruto's betrayal were a torture. You couldn't leave your house, yet you hated it. You hated that your bed smelled like him, and that every corner of the house held memories of when you were happy, haunting you. You hadn’t spoken to anyone else, not even Sakura, your childhood friend, who you thought was one of the few people who understood the weight of what you were facing. After all, you needed space, a break from everything that reminded you of him and the relationship with the man you thought would become your husband—one that ended when you least expected it.

That’s when you decided to leave the village. Not as an escape, but as an act of self-love. You needed to rest from everything, and most importantly, from him. So, without giving yourself time to regret it, you packed the essentials and left a note for the few who needed to know, including Kakashi, who had always been a father figure and wise mentor in your life. The idea of visiting Temari, an old friend from the Shinobi Alliance, seemed perfect. You knew she would welcome you with open arms in the Hidden Sand Village.

You left the village in the middle of the night, with no turning back.

The weight of guilt began to consume Naruto the moment he heard you were gone. He didn’t understand how it had gotten to this point. He had spent countless nights thinking about how to fix things between you, but always putting it off for tomorrow, for later. And now, "later" didn’t exist, because you were already gone.

That morning, when he entered his office with dark circles under his eyes and red-rimmed lids, the first thing he saw was the note you had left. A couple of lines sealing the goodbye, and between them, a deep pain that pierced his chest like a dagger. "I need some time, Naruto. I need to heal."

The Hokage stared at the letter, his hands trembling as he held it, but he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t stay still while you were slipping away. Rage and pain merged into one feeling: desperation. He had to find you. It didn’t matter at what cost.

Without a second thought, he gave orders to use the village’s resources for an urgent mission. Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi would be sent to find you and bring you back—no matter what it took, he thought. He couldn’t lose you.

Before he could act, his three friends arrived at his office. All three looked at him seriously, their faces reflecting the same concern, though the tone of their words was something Naruto didn’t expect.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sasuke said firmly, crossing his arms as he approached, letting him know it was one of the stupidest ideas he had ever had, and that was saying a lot.

He wasn’t going to interfere because you had asked him not to, but the fury was boiling in his chest, ready to explode against his best friend. How dare he hurt his sister?

"What are you talking about, Sasuke? She’s gone, your sister! I need to find her!" Naruto replied, his voice shaking with frustration.

Kakashi intervened calmly, seeing Sasuke start to approach Naruto, as he always did, but this time his tone was more serious. He wasn’t happy with his student; you were like a daughter to him, and Naruto had messed up.

"You can’t use the village’s resources like this, Naruto. This isn’t an emergency mission. You need to think carefully before you act. I know lately you seem to be thinking with another head, but calm down and stop acting like a child. Face the consequences of your actions."

Sakura, seeing the chaos in Naruto’s eyes, put a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. But her words were harsh, and Naruto felt them like a direct blow, as did all his friends.

"Naruto, you know. You’ve failed, and what she needs isn’t for you to chase her. She asked for space, and you have to respect that. You can’t force her to come back. Sometimes, love isn’t enough to heal what’s been broken. And that’s something you need to understand."

The Hokage was exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed. In his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about you, about what he had done wrong, about how he had failed you time and again. But those words, as harsh as they were necessary, made him think, even though he didn’t like them. Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi weren’t wrong.

"You can’t make her come back to your side just because you want it, Naruto" Kakashi continued, his voice calmer than before but still direct. "She left because she needed space to heal. And if there’s even an ounce of affection for her in you, you’ll have to give her that space, even though it hurts."

Naruto looked at his friends, his face filled with frustration and regret. For so long, he had been so focused on his role as Hokage that he had lost sight of what really mattered. He had taken for granted that the love of his life would always be there, waiting for him. And now that he needed her, he didn’t know how to reach her.

"So, what am I supposed to do?" he asked, his voice broken. "Just let her go? Let her leave without doing anything?"

Sasuke stepped forward, his face impassive, but there was a harshness in his words that left no room for doubt.

"It’s not that you have to do "nothing." But you need to learn to listen, Naruto. Sometimes, being the best ninja in the world doesn’t make you the best man, and it certainly doesn’t make you smart. You have to understand that what she needs now is time, and you’re not going to win her back by pressuring her. You failed yourself by not being there for her when she needed you most. Now, give my sister the respect she deserves at last"

Sakura nodded firmly, looking at Naruto with a bit of sadness in her eyes.

"Do whatever it takes to show you’re capable of changing, Naruto. But don’t do it at her expense. If you really want to get her back, start by being the man she deserves, not the one you’ve been until now."

Kakashi closed the conversation with a serious but conciliatory tone.

"You have to let her go, for now. And when the right time comes, when she’s healed, that will be when you can fight for her again. But not with urgency, nor desperation, but with the maturity you’ve lacked until now."

Naruto stayed silent. He didn’t know if he could bear to wait, but he understood what his friends were telling him. He had to be strong in a different way, a way he had never considered before. And maybe that was the hardest part of all.

With a deep sigh, Naruto nodded slowly.

"Alright. I won’t look for her... but I’m not giving up. I’m going to be better, not just for her, but for me."

Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi looked at him without saying anything more, knowing this was the first step. But they also knew that, in the end, only time would tell if Naruto could truly change enough to heal the wound he had caused himself.

And as they walked away, Naruto stayed alone in his office again, staring at the note in his hands. The road to redemption wouldn’t be easy, but at least now he knew he wasn’t alone on this journey.

The desert was vast and silent, but there was something comforting in its immensity. When you arrived in Suna, Temari was waiting for you at the main entrance. Her serious expression softened when she saw you, and without needing words, she hugged you tightly.

"Looks like you need more than just a change of air, huh?" Temari said with a touch of humor, trying to lighten the mood.

"Something like that" you replied with a faint smile, grateful that she wasn’t asking too many questions right away.

Temari took you to her home and, as always, was the perfect host. For the first few days, she let you rest and adapt to the peaceful, hot rhythm of the village. It wasn’t until the third night that you began to open up. You told her what had happened with Naruto, the pain of seeing him distance himself, and finally, the betrayal. Temari listened attentively, and while she wasn’t the emotional type, her presence was a balm for your wound.

"You’re stronger than you think" Temari said in the end. "This doesn’t define you. But you need time to find yourself."

It was then that she suggested you talk to her brother, Gaara. At first, you hesitated, but you remembered that he had always had a unique perspective on life and pain. His own story was a testament to how the deepest wounds could be transformed into something powerful.

Blood Chains — Sasuke Uchiha

pairing: Sasuke Uchiha x fem uchiha reader!

word count: 4595 k ( I might have gone a bit overboard i really need to get a life)

summary: You are forced to marry in order to continue the pure bloodline.

warnings; none, arranged married (?

hope you like it!

The Uchiha Clan had always been one of the cornerstones of Konoha. With their strength, their honorable history, and, above all, the cherished power running through their veins, they had left an indelible mark on the village. However, not everything within the clan had always been harmonious. After years of internal and political strife, the Uchiha decided that the best way to maintain the lineage and the purity of the Sharingan was through an arranged marriage between two strong members of the same bloodline.

Y/n Uchiha, a beautiful young woman with a strong spirit and an indomitable character, had never imagined being part of a political marriage. She was born to be a warrior, to preserve the honor and memory of her clan. She had always believed that her life would not depend on a man. Yet, when the clan council announced her arranged marriage to Sasuke Uchiha, she couldn’t help but feel trapped. It wasn’t what she wanted, but she couldn’t deny her father’s wishes.

Sasuke, on the other hand, had long distanced himself from everything the clan represented. He loved his family but had witnessed too many horrors in his life—too many betrayals, too many broken promises. His brother’s death had scarred him deeply, and walking a solitary path, regardless of the cost, was his way of surviving. He didn’t care about the clan, arranged marriages, or bloodline purity. But destiny—or rather, duty—had caught up with him, and even though he resisted, he couldn’t refuse.

When you were informed that you would marry Sasuke, you weren’t surprised. But that didn’t mean you were happy about it. Y/n understood her duty and was willing to fulfill it, yet she didn’t expect Sasuke to be so… irritating.

The wedding day arrived. The air was heavy with unspoken expectations placed upon the shoulders of the two young ninjas. They exchanged glances at the altar—not the look of lovers, but of two individuals simply accepting what had been imposed on them. It was only a brief moment, and Sasuke, in his habitual silence, showed no emotion. Y/n, on the other hand, stood firm, her eyes reflecting a determination that Sasuke had known since they were children, but there was also a shadow of doubt. What kind of future awaited them together?

The atmosphere during the ceremony was filled with curious glances and expectations from all members of the clan, especially their parents, who viewed the marriage as a necessary step for the survival of the lineage. “The clan needs this union,” was all you repeated to yourself as you listened to the priest’s words. There was no turning back now. You were trapped with him for the rest of your life, fulfilling your duty.

The first few days after the wedding were a silent torment for both. Sasuke spent most of his time away on missions for the village, escaping from his new reality. You, on your part, tried to fulfill your role as a wife, but the household duties and the clan’s administrative responsibilities left you with no peace. The bond between the two was so distant it could be cut with a feather.

One evening, after a long day of training, Sasuke returned home, tired but unwilling to yield. You were preparing dinner—a small welcoming gesture you hoped he’d appreciate, though Sasuke didn’t even notice it. His indifference immediately annoyed you. You were trying, and he didn’t care. Why was he such an idiot?

“Do you have something to say?” your sharp voice broke the silence, almost challenging.

Sasuke didn’t respond immediately. He was too exhausted to argue, but at the same time, something inside him couldn’t ignore the spark of irritation that had been growing toward you during his days at home.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied indifferently, dropping his bag on the floor. He chose not to fight.

You didn’t look at him, but anger began bubbling inside you. How dare he be so distant? you thought. “Then… why don’t you speak, Sasuke? Why do you ignore everything here?”

“I already told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answered, now with a hint of irritation. There was something about his attitude that drove you mad. Crossing your arms, you stared at him with determination. This was the first conversation you’d had in days, and you weren’t going to back down so easily.

“I’m not here to play your games, Sasuke. This marriage—whether it’s just for the clan or not—forces us to live together. I’m not some decorative figure in this house you can simply ignore,” you said, unable to keep the anger from filling your voice. Sasuke observed you for a long moment, surprised by the strength of your words.

“And what do you expect from me? To call you ‘dear’ and live a happy life? This isn’t a fairy tale,” Sasuke said, his voice cold and distant as always.

And there it was again—that discomfort in the air, that insurmountable barrier between the two of you. You sighed, feeling your nerves start to snap. You couldn’t continue living like this, in constant friction. But he was right, so you locked yourself in your room with a loud slam of the door.

The next confrontation wasn’t long in coming. A week later, while Sasuke was away, you couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening between the two of you. You couldn’t deny that there was something about Sasuke that attracted you—a darkness that seemed to call to your own inner shadows. But there was also something about him that repulsed you: his indifference, his inability to connect. You were so alike, yet so different.

Since the wedding, your world had changed drastically, but that didn’t mean you would stay silent in the face of the contempt you felt from your husband.

Sasuke arrived home late, as always. You were waiting for him with a cup of tea in your hands, staring at the floor. Sasuke removed his sandals, paying little attention to your actions, and went straight to the window, seeking some calm after a long and exhausting day. The barrier between you remained firm.

You stood up, leaving the cup on the table, and slowly approached him. “Why are you here, Sasuke?” you asked, your voice firm but with a layer of vulnerability you couldn’t hide. “If you don’t want to be here, if you really don’t care to make an effort, just say so and leave.”

Sasuke turned to you, his dark eyes as empty as ever, but this time there was something different in his gaze—a spark of doubt, of guilt, as if your words were beginning to sink in. “I don’t understand you,” he said, letting out an exasperated sigh. “What do you want me to say, Y/n? That I don’t care about this?” His tone softened slightly, but his attitude remained cold, calculating.

“Then tell me,” you challenged, locking your eyes with his. “Because you haven’t said a single sincere word since we got married. I don’t know what you think, I don’t know what you feel. Is this really what you want, Sasuke? For us to live as strangers under the same roof?”

Sasuke stared at your face, noticing for the first time the intensity of your frustration, your pain. You were hurting, too. “Not everything can be solved with words,” he murmured, turning back to the window. “What I do, I do for the clan, for the future. If you have something to reproach me for, say it. I don’t have time for explanations.”

But in his eyes, you saw something else. An internal struggle, a battle he had never wanted to share. It couldn’t be that simple. Sasuke Uchiha—the man who had dedicated his life to revenge and solitude—was fighting against something he didn’t understand, something you couldn’t clearly see.

The tension in the room was palpable. You could feel the anger beginning to simmer in your chest, but at the same time, there was a strange sense of attraction toward him. His presence, his strength, the way he seemed so distant, so out of reach, stirred a mix of conflicting emotions within you. Once again, you let it pass, retreating to your room.

The next day, you decided to do something you hadn't done in a long time: step out of your comfort zone. For years, you had been part of the clan, always controlled, always aware of your responsibilities. But at that moment, you couldn’t keep ignoring what you felt. So, for once, you took a risk.

You walked toward the library of the Uchiha mansion, where Sasuke often spent long hours reading. The air was silent, the whisper of books sliding between shelves filling the space. He was there, standing in front of a bookshelf, his body hunched over the volumes.

“Can I talk to you?” you asked, the voice softer than usual, devoid of the anger that typically accompanied your words.

Sasuke glanced at you over his shoulder, his eyes void of emotion. “About what?”

You stepped closer, with your heart pounding in your chest. “About us,” you replied, a hint of vulnerability in your voice. "I don’t want to live like this, Sasuke. I don’t want to be in a marriage where all we do is ignore each other, and when we don’t, we argue."

There was a pause. Sasuke said nothing, but his expression softened slightly. You didn’t know if that was a good sign or not.

"Maybe, just maybe, if we give ourselves a chance, we could understand each other. Maybe even become... friends."

Sasuke turned fully, his eyes fixed on her. “I don’t want to be trapped in a lie,” he said, his tone heavy, but the intensity in his gaze suggested those words were not only for you but for himself as well. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to act. I...”

But seeing how much he struggled to open up, you didn’t let him finish. You took another step closer and suddenly stopped him with a hand on his chest. Sasuke froze at your touch, staring into your eyes with surprise, and though his body remained tense, the energy in the air shifted, both of you felt it.

"I know," you whispered. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t try. Because, Sasuke, if we don’t, this story will never have an ending.”

It was then that something shifted between them—a change so subtle no one else could have noticed. But in that instant, thanks to that small touch, you and Sasuke realized that the tension growing between you for so long was not just the result of the clan’s expectations or family responsibilities. There was something more, something that connected you, something neither of you could fully understand.

As days passed, the tension between Sasuke and T/n didn’t completely disappear, but something began to change in their strange dynamic. Both started interacting more subtly, less distantly. They no longer avoided glances or uncomfortable conversations. There was a fragile peace between them—one that seemed more like a temporary truce than a definitive solution.

One night, while dining in silence, Sasuke broke the stillness. “Y/n…” His voice sounded less harsh than usual. “Why do you always challenge me?”

You looked up, surprised by the question. Sasuke rarely spoke of emotions, let alone his thoughts. “Because I don’t think everything has to be so cold and calculated. The clan shouldn’t be the only thing that matters. Not when you’re so trapped in your own thoughts that you can’t even see what you have here.”

Sasuke stared at you, unsure if your words had any truth or if you were just searching for something more in him. But without a doubt, you had struck a nerve. He had always lived for his family, for the Uchiha clan, and had learned to disconnect from emotions. But with you, everything seemed different.

Silence fell between them again, but now it wasn’t as heavy. Though they didn’t speak, Sasuke began observing her more closely. There was something in her gaze—something defiant, something he had never noticed in any other woman of his clan. She wasn’t someone who would submit to the will of others, not even his. That intrigued him more than he wanted to admit.

A few days later, the Uchiha clan organized an important business meeting that you were both obligated to attend. During the meeting, Sasuke was absorbed in discussions with the leaders, while you watched with disdain the conversations about alliances and strategies. For some time now, you had been considering stepping back; you were tired of fighting. At that moment, a man from a rival clan began to make insinuations toward you, praising your skills and hinting at something more than mere admiration.

“You’re a very strong woman, Y/n,” the man said with a smile, stepping a little closer. “It’s an honor to meet such an… impressive Uchiha.”

You frowned, uncomfortable. However, the man’s words flattered your ego. “Thank you, Yamada,” you replied, stepping slightly away from the man’s hands, which had shamelessly landed on your waist. “But I’m not interested in your empty compliments.”

Sasuke watched everything from his position at the table, and although his face remained impassive, something inside him stirred. He couldn’t help but feel jealous. But what right did he have to feel that way? After all, he himself had treated you coldly, and you two were only just beginning to coexist in peace.

But the way that man approached T/n awakened something in Sasuke. He couldn’t let another man be so close to you. Though he didn’t fully understand what he was feeling, he knew he couldn’t allow things to get more complicated than they already were.

When the party ended, Sasuke walked toward you without saying a word, brushing past the man with a deliberate bump. You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, recognizing the tension in his posture.

“Was that necessary?” you asked, crossing your arms. “It’s just a game for him, Sasuke.”

“I couldn’t care less about what he wants,” Sasuke replied in a low tone, almost murmuring. “I care about what you want.”

The silence that followed was heavy, and though you wanted to challenge him, a part of you felt touched by his words. Sasuke, in his own way, was telling you something without fully saying it. There was something more behind his distant and protective demeanor. Why did he feel that impulse to protect her now?

The previous night, something had changed in Sasuke. Although he didn’t fully understand what he was feeling, seeing T/n distant from him—even smiling with another man—made him realize he wasn’t willing to let you go. Somehow, you were beginning to stir something inside him, something that had been dormant for years.

You, on the other hand, were confused. Although you still saw him as your husband by obligation, the tension between you had intensified in ways you couldn’t ignore. Was that what you wanted now? To have something more with Sasuke, even if he would never be the romantic man you had dreamed of?

One day, after a morning training session, Sasuke stopped in front of you while you practiced your ninjutsu techniques. It was clear that the way you both looked at each other had shifted, but neither dared to speak about what they truly felt. You were exhausted, your breath uneven, yet you stood tall and defiant as always. Sasuke, on the other hand, watched you with a mix of respect and... something else.

“What is it, Sasuke? Are you just going to stand there staring at me all day?” you said without stopping your training, a touch of sarcasm in your voice.

“I’m just wondering…” Sasuke began, his tone serious. “Why do you push yourself so hard, Y/N?” He had spent his whole life watching you push yourself to the edge, becoming formidable.

You stopped training and turned to him with a challenging look. “Because I need to be better. I can’t afford to fail. This is my life, Sasuke. The one I’ve built for myself. And you? Why do you do it? Is it just for the clan, or is there something more?”

Sasuke stared at her in silence, a mix of frustration and strange admiration bubbling within him. you are unstoppable.

“I do it for what I represent,” he finally said, his voice low but firm. “For my clan. For Konoha.”

“Then keep pretending you’re not human,” you replied sharply. “Keep pretending you don’t care what you think or feel and stay out of it.”

Your response left Sasuke silent, but inwardly, he felt wounded. It was true. He had always kept his emotions under control, never letting anything distract him from his responsibilities. But you had seen beyond his facade, and that both irritated and intrigued him.

That same night, after dinner, they found themselves once again in the Uchiha mansion garden. The moonlight bathed the ground covered in fallen leaves, and the stillness of the place allowed them to remain silent without the pressure of prying eyes.

“Have you ever thought that we could be more than a political arrangement?” Sasuke broke the silence, his voice deep.

You looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his words. “I don’t know,” you answered after a long moment. “I’ve never thought about what could be. I’ve only focused on what is.”

Sasuke stepped closer to you, cautiously, as though weighing every word. “And what is that, exactly? You and I living like this forever?”

Your gaze remained locked with his, a flash of emotion passing through your eyes. “I don’t want to be just another pawn on the chessboard, Sasuke. I don’t want to be your obligation.”

Sasuke studied you intently, feeling your words sink deeper than he expected. There was something in your gaze that was disarming him. Something that told him he could no longer ignore his own feelings, the ones he had kept locked away for so long.

“Then what do you want from me?” he asked in a low voice, a spark of desperation in his tone that felt foreign to him.

You took a step back, returning to the strong, defiant woman you had always been. “I want you to stop hiding behind your responsibilities and start being real with me, Sasuke. I can’t keep living in a world where everything is just another damn duty.”

The air between both of you grew heavier, but Sasuke didn’t back down. He couldn’t. Something in his chest was beating fiercely, and it wasn’t just for the clan, not just for Konoha. Something else was driving him to stand there, facing you, ready to confront his own demons.

For the first time in a long while, you were not just adversaries. Perhaps, just perhaps, you were beginning to understand each other.

Even though you and Sasuke shared the same home and, in theory, were fulfilling your duties as husband and wife within the clan, there was a palpable distance between you. However, something had shifted in your relationship: words were no longer necessary to acknowledge that your feelings were evolving.

A couple of months after the marriage, Sasuke was in his office reviewing documents when a shadow appeared at the door. It was you, with your usual defiant demeanor, but this time, there was something different in your gaze.

“What’s keeping you so busy, Sasuke?” you asked, your voice laced with curiosity. “You can’t spend the entire day buried in paperwork.”

Sasuke looked up, his expression as impassive as ever, but his eyes revealed a spark of interest. “Work, as always. Do you have something to say, Y/N?”

You stepped closer, placing a hand on his desk. “Do you really have to spend all day locked in here, doing things that have nothing to do with us?” Your words, though direct, carried a faint tone of reproach.

Sasuke watched you for a long moment, something he rarely did. For a second, everything about him seemed more vulnerable. His life, always so controlled and calculated, was beginning to crumble under the weight of his own heart. What did he truly want? He couldn’t keep living solely for the clan. You knew it, and he felt it too.

“What do you suggest, then?” he finally asked, his voice unusually gentle.

You smiled faintly, the spark of challenge in your eyes. “That we stop pretending we’re just tools of the clan, Sasuke. Maybe what we need is time... time for us.”

The change in Sasuke was subtle but unmistakable. There was something in your words that resonated within him, something he hadn’t considered before. What you needed wasn’t just to fulfill a duty. There was a need to be honest with each other, to finally be real.

That afternoon, Sasuke decided to break free from his daily routine, spurred by your words. He invited you to train outside the city, in a calm area far from the Uchiha mansion. You wanted to train together, simply to enjoy each other’s company without the expectations of the clan.

The sun was setting as you arrived at a clearing near the forest. You glanced at Sasuke as he began to stretch, preparing to start. His body, always so rigid, moved with an innate grace.

“How do you manage to stay so... cold?” you asked as you began your own warm-up.

Sasuke looked at you again, as if deciding whether to answer. “It’s not cold. Just... efficient.”

“Efficient,” you repeated mockingly. “I know you, Sasuke Uchiha. It’s a façade. And you know it.”

He said nothing, but inside, his thoughts were turbulent. Did you really see him that way? What you said had struck a nerve. He wasn’t just a “cold man” or a machine that only thought about the clan. There was more to him, and for the first time, he felt you were the only one who saw it.

When the two of you began training, the tension between you became palpable. Every movement, every technique, was a blend of challenge, rivalry, and something more... something that was slowly building. However, the most disconcerting thing was the electricity that seemed to flow—a tension neither of you wanted to acknowledge.

Suddenly, as you sparred, Sasuke blocked one of your attacks, causing you to fall to the ground. The air grew heavier, as if everything between you had condensed into that single moment. Sasuke extended his hand to help you up, and as your eyes met, you found yourselves closer than ever before.

“You’ll have to do better if you want to beat me,” Sasuke said, trying to deflect the tension, though his voice was softer, tinged with something he couldn’t quite identify.

Instead of responding with words, you challenged him with a fierce red gaze—the unmistakable Sharingan you both shared. He smiled. Something was brewing between you, something even your egos couldn’t deny.

After an exhausting day of training, you shared a light meal at the mansion. Though both of you were reluctant to show emotions, the dynamic between you had changed. Sasuke couldn’t stop watching you, noticing how you ate, how you smiled, how every small gesture seemed more genuine than the empty moments of his past.

When you both finished, Sasuke stood and walked to the window, gazing at the horizon. The silence in the room was comfortable, something he rarely felt.

You watched him from where you sat, saying nothing for a few moments. Something in the air had shifted.

“You know,” you finally said, breaking the silence. “I... I don’t know if we’ll ever become what the clan expects of us. But maybe, we can try to be something else. Just us.”

Sasuke turned to you, his piercing eyes meeting yours. For a long second, he said nothing. Your heart pounded, feeling the weight of your words. Perhaps you’d ruined things, and he would withdraw again.

Then, suddenly, Sasuke stepped toward you, close enough that your breaths mingled. “Y/N...” he murmured, almost in a whisper.

The world seemed to stop, and you weren’t sure if it was the right moment to continue, to take the next step. But something in his eyes told you that, perhaps, the future wasn’t as uncertain as it once seemed.

Sasuke didn’t move for a long moment, his gaze locked on yours. The tension in the air was palpable, indescribable, something you both felt but neither wanted to admit. Your hearts seemed to beat in sync, and the silence between you turned into something almost sacred.

Taking a deep breath, your hands trembled slightly, though you tried to maintain composure. Should you take the first step? Something inside told you yes. You couldn’t keep ignoring what you felt—not when every fiber of your being yearned for him.

Finally, it was Sasuke who broke the silence, his voice low and husky. “Y/N...” he whispered your name again in a way he never had before. It was soft but carried an emotional weight you immediately recognized. In that moment, it was just the two of you.

Without further thought, Sasuke stepped even closer, his fingers brushing lightly against your cheek. The distance between you closed, and as you looked up, your faces were so close that your breaths intertwined.

“What... what is happening between us?” you murmured, your voice trembling with emotion.

Sasuke didn’t reply with words. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, and in an impulsive act, captured your lips with his.

The kiss was gentle at first, cautious, as if you both feared what would come next. But soon, the tension that had been building for weeks—that spark that had always been there but neither dared to acknowledge—exploded. Sasuke pulled you closer, his arms wrapping around you as you clung to his clothes, seeking more of the feeling only he could give you.

The kiss deepened with urgency, as if everything you hadn’t said before was being conveyed through that single moment. The world disappeared. The clan’s duties, the weight of expectations—all of it faded away. Only the two of you existed, discovering a new feeling, something you’d never experienced before.

When the kiss broke, you were both breathing heavily, your foreheads touching, gazes locked. Your heart pounded wildly, as if it had finally found its rhythm.

“This...” Sasuke began, but his words trailed off, unable to find the right way to describe what had just happened.

With a shy but genuine smile, you whispered in reply, “This is just the beginning, Sasuke.”

The room fell silent again, the weight of your words lingering in the air. But the certainty of what you had just shared, of what was growing between you, was clear. It no longer mattered what the clan thought or what the history of your families dictated. From that moment on, the rules had changed.

pairing: Naruto Uzumaki x fem uchiha reader!

word count: 1216 k

summary: Naruto hasn’t been present since he became Hokage.

warnings; fem reader, heartbreak, breakup, english is not my first language

part two

Years had passed since you first met Naruto Uzumaki. Back when you were just children dreaming of becoming ninjas, he had lit up your life with his contagious smile and unshakable optimism. You had fallen in love with his determination and charisma, seeing in him not just the hyperactive boy who dreamed of becoming Hokage, but also the man who would one day change the world. You always saw his great potential and had faith in him. Now, that dream had come true. Naruto was the Seventh Hokage of Konoha, and while the world celebrated him, you felt more alone than ever.

Over time, you had learned to accept that Naruto had responsibilities that extended beyond you. However, that understanding began to turn into an unbearable weight that barely let you breathe. The dinners he promised to attend turned into cold plates. The nights he said he’d be home early ended with you falling asleep on the couch, waiting for him after crying yourself dry.

One day, after a long silence between the two of you, you decided to talk to him.

“Naruto, I feel like you’re not here with me anymore. You do so much for everyone else, but… what about us? I miss you.”

Naruto looked at you with those blue eyes that had always melted your heart. His gaze softened, and a flicker of guilt crossed his face.

“That’s not true. I love you more than anything. How could you doubt that?” he said, taking your hands. “I know I’ve been busy, but I’ll find my rhythm soon, and we’ll be fine.”

You wanted to believe him, but that very night, you found yourself alone again. He had promised to be there, but an “emergency” had pulled him back to his office.

As time passed, the emptiness in your chest only grew. You truly tried everything to rekindle the connection you once had, back when you went on missions together: preparing his favorite meals, decorating your home to give him a warm welcome, even finding moments to visit him at the Hokage Tower. But Naruto always seemed distracted, absorbed in something you couldn’t reach.

One sleepless night, you decided to take a walk. The streets of Konoha were quiet since the war, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. Without realizing it, your steps took you toward the Hokage Tower. As you approached, you noticed the light in the main office was still on. Curious, and with a strange feeling in your stomach, you decided to go up and see if you could convince him to leave his work behind and come home, just for tonight.

As you reached the door, you heard laughter. It wasn’t Naruto’s laugh—you knew it well. Nor was it the kind of laugh one hears in a formal meeting. It was feminine, sweet, and intimate. Your heart began to race as you stepped closer, your hands clammy and cold. Then, you saw them through the crack in the door.

Naruto was leaning toward another woman, someone you immediately recognized as a kunoichi who worked closely with him. They were far too close, their hands brushing against each other, looking at one another as if they were the only people in the world, sharing a moment that left no room for misinterpretation.

The ground seemed to disappear beneath your feet. Everything you had built with him—all the trust, promises, and dreams—shattered in that instant. But then, anger surged through your veins, burning away the shock. The pain and rage churned in your chest, suffocating you, but you refused to remain silent. With firm steps, you pushed the door open, the sound of it slamming against the wall echoing in the room.

“Naruto?” Your voice trembled, but not from fear—from barely restrained fury.

Both of them turned to you, startled. Naruto stood up immediately, his face pale.

“Love… this isn’t what it looks like.”

You crossed your arms, your gaze fixed solely on him. The disappointment in your eyes was unmistakable. It felt like your heart was being ripped apart, the betrayal cutting deeper because he had been your friend before anything else.

“Oh, really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like while I’m at home waiting for you, doing everything I can to keep this relationship afloat, you’re here… having fun?”

Naruto froze. You were right. He had neglected you for something that offered a fleeting distraction in his relentless life, something that wasn’t even worth it. That’s why he hadn’t left you—because he still loved you more than anything, just as he had since you were children, when he used to tease you about marrying him someday, and you’d laugh, saying he’d never deserve you. How right you had been.

The kunoichi stood, uncomfortable in the heavy silence between you.

“I should go…” she murmured, but you raised a hand, stopping her instantly. Your Sharingan flared to life, its fiery red gaze freezing her in place.

“No. Stay. This isn’t just my issue—it involves you too.” You turned your attention back to Naruto. “So? What’s going on here?”

Naruto swallowed hard, avoiding your gaze. “It’s not what you think. She was just helping me with some documents. It’s late, and we were just relaxing a little.”

You let out a bitter laugh. The sound sent a chill down Naruto’s spine—it reminded him of Sasuke’s icy fury, and for the first time, he felt afraid. He had never seen you like this.

“Relaxing? Do you know how many nights I’ve spent alone while you’re ‘working’? How many times I’ve convinced myself this is just a phase, that things would get better?” Your voice cracked. “How long has this been going on?”

“I’m not doing anything!” Naruto responded, louder than necessary. But his uncertain expression betrayed him.

You shook your head, the pain and frustration finally spilling over as tears you could no longer hold back.

“You always said you loved me, that I was your priority. But I’m not, am I? You don’t even have the decency to admit it!”

The kunoichi stepped back, startled by your rising anger, and tried to intervene. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble—”

Without looking at her, you spoke coldly, your voice sharp as a blade. “You’ve caused enough trouble. Leave.”

She nodded quickly and left, leaving you and Naruto alone in the room, the air thick with tension.

“I…” Naruto began, but you raised a hand to stop him.

“No more excuses, Naruto. I always tried to be understanding, but this… this is something I can’t ignore.”

Naruto tried to approach you, but you stepped back, the thought of his touch repulsing you.

“I need you to stay away from me,” you said firmly, though your heart ached as the words left your lips. “I want you out of my house.”

Without waiting for a response, you turned and walked out of the office, leaving Naruto alone, guilt etched into his face. The frustration boiled over as he swept everything off his desk, tears burning his cheeks.